(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
DOHA: Prominent Arab novelists, writers and literary critics have gathered at the Fourth Katara Festival of Arabic Novels which began yesterday at Katara Cultural Village premises.
Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara Cultural Village, opened the three-day Festival which witnesses, among other activities, the awarding of prizes to winners of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel 2018.
Al Sulaiti in his opening address said that the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel over the past four years has gained a prestigious position in the Arab literary and cultural circles thanks to the concerted efforts of the organisers to expand it to new areas.
'The Prize has become a real meeting point for Arab novelists, writers and critics and its growing popularity has been reflected in the steady growth in the number of participants, which has reached 1,283 in the fourth edition, he added.
'I would like to emphasise that this award is for all Arabs from all regions. And we expect everyone attending this Festival to enjoy the cultural and literary atmosphere it provides, said Al Sulaiti.
Al Sulaiti honoured two Qatari personalities for their outstanding contribution to art and literature — Mariam Al Nuaimi of Qatar University and artist Bakhitha Al Sada.
Al Sulaiti, accompanied by Khaled Al Sayed, Head of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel, the participating writers, novelists and other dignitaries, then opened the Katara Library of Arabic Novels at Building 32 and an exhibition on the life and works of renowned Palestinian novelist Ghassan Kanafani at Building 18.
The Library showcases more than 10,000 titles in fiction, in addition to studies and critical works on Arabic novels. It has special sections for reading and for screening of films and serials based on fiction, as well as audio programmes. It also has dedicated facilities for lectures, seminars and workshops, and a studio for recording interviews and interactive sessions. The Library will also have a Readers' Club.
The exhibition on Kanafani features 32 paintings, photographs and illustrations introducing the life and literary journey of the Palestinian revolutionary novelist, from his birth in Acre on April 1936 until his assassination by Israeli intelligence agencies in Beirut on July 8, 1972.
A signing of books by authors who won the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel 2017 took place at Building 18, during which the attendees received copies of the novels and critical studies with signature of the authors. Translations of several prize winning novels in English and French were also on offer.
An innovative electronic application named #Mishwar_Wariwaya was launched on the occasion for walkers to listen to audio version of select Arabic novels. It can be used in all mobile or electronic devices having Android, iOS or Apple operating system.
The app enables the user to count the number of words they have listened while walking, along with the steps and distance they have covered. Users will also be able to know how much calories they have burnt after their walk.
Events on the first day of the Festival concluded with a seminar on Kanafani followed by screening of a film based on Kanafani's novel 'Return to Haifa.
Events today include the launch of a new Katara initiative named 'Narrations from Novels for school students to get them acquainted with Arabic novels.
Two seminars on literary criticism will take place focusing on women fiction writers in Arabic and 'novels and theatre, with participation of prominent writers and critics. Today's events will conclude with a grand award ceremony to honour winners of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel 2018 at Katara's Opera House at 8pm.
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